Improvement in trace-fasteners



J., G; MUNROE. Trace-Fasteners.

No. 197,654. Patented Nov. 27, I877.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES e. MUNROE, OF WYTHEV'ILLE, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT lN TRACE-FASTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,654, dated November 27, 1877; application filed July 5, 1877,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. MUNROE, of Wytheville, in the county of Wythe and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace-Fasteners and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and'use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a side view of the end of a trace having my improved fastener, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

This invention relates to that class of devices which are used for connecting the traces to'the single-trees of buggies and carriages; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, which I shall now proceed more fully to describe with reference to the drawing hereto annexed, in which- A is the body of my improved fastener, which consists of a plate of cast, wrought, or stamped metal, having a recess, 12, on one side, for the insertion of the trace B, which is secured by rivets a a. At the end opposite to recess b plate A has a narrow vertical slot, at, in which is pivoted the latch 0, having its fulcrum at c.

d is the hole or cockeye for the insertion of the ends or buttons of the whiffletree, opposite to and corresponding with which latch O has a curved slot, e. G is the head of the latch, which is provided with a lug, j, projecting out from the recess a in plate A, so that the latch may be raised out of its locked pothis device will be readily understood.

To adjust the traces upon the whiffletrees the latch G O is raised, the cockeye (I inserted over the head or button upon the shank of the tree, and the latch is again let down in the locked position represented on the drawing.

- Spring kwill keep the latch firmly in position and prevent jarring when the vehicle is in motion.

My improved trace-fastener is strong, durable, and easily manipulated. It may be manufactured at a small cost, and may, when 'desired, be nickel or silver plated, so as to present a neat, ornamental appearance.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States The improved trace-fastenerherein described, consisting of the recessed and slotted plate A, in combination with spring k, bearing-pin m, and pivotedlatch O 0, having lug j and slot 0, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES G. MUNROE.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. ALLISON, DIOGENE B. TERRELL. 

